Lock for bottle-containing cases

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for temporarily locking together the upper layer of a multi-layered stack of beverage bottle-containing cases. A sheet formed with a plurality of apertures is dropped over the bottles of the upper layer of cases, with the apertures being received by at least one bottle in each case of the layer. In this manner relative horizontal movement of the cases out of their abutting relationship beyond a predetermined distance is restrained.

United States Patent 11 1 Higgin Aug. 14, 1973 [54] LOCK FOR BOTTLE-CONTAINING CASES 3,490,583 1/1970 Cook 206/65 E [76] Inventor: Will L. Hlggin, 23 Heritage Ln.,

Newport Beach, Calm 92660 Przmary Examiner-Leonard Summer Att0rneyFrancis A. Utecht et a1. [22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 240,546 [57] ABSTRACT An arrangement for temporarily locking together the 52 us. (:1 206/65 E, 214/105 R upper layer of a mum-layered stack of beverage bottle- 51 Int. Cl B65d 71/00, 865g 1/14 containing A Sheet formed with a plurality of v- [58] Field of Search 206/65 E, 44 R; eflures is dropped Over the bottles of the upper layer 2 5 R 105 s of cases, with the apertures being received by at least one bottle in each case of the layer. In this manner rela- [5 References Cited tive horizontal movement of the cases out of their abut- UNITED STATES PATENTS ting relationship beyond a predetermined distance is 3,133,632 5/1964 Goldstein 206/44 R restrained. 3,146,505 9/1964 Hansen 206/65 E X 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,310

2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.2

FIGS) Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,310

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 x w FIG.4 r-- 000 000 OOQKQOQ GOG-500 009] 00 o01 o0 QOQEQOO OOQYEOO GOO 000 OOOOOOO OOOO BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the beverage bottling industry a plurality of bottles are contained within cases, the bottles extending above the case wherein they are contained. The cases are generally stacked in a multiple of layers, many with each layer including a plurality of abutting cases. The stacks of cases are generally supported upon a pallet. The layers of bottle-containing cases are usually stacked upon one another by means of fork lifts.

A long standing problem in connection with the handling of these stacks of cases is bottle breakage. It is quite common for the cases in the upper layer of a stack to slip off of the top of the stack and fall to the floor. Not only does the resulting breakage add considerably to the cost of the bottling operation, but additionally, workmen may be injured by the falling cases and breaking glass. Cleanup of the broken glass presents yet another problem. A similar problem of glass breakage is presented when stacked layers of beverage bottle-containing cases are shipped by truck. An attempt to solve this problem is represented by U. S. Pat. No. 3,490,583 issued Jan. 20, 1970.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Applicant has devised a simple, foolproof and inexpensive arrangement for temporarily locking together the layers of a multi-layered stack of bottle-containing cases. Applicant effects such temporary locking together of the cases by means of a horizontal sheet that is formed with a plurality of apertures. The sheet is slipped over the tops of the bottles of a case with the apertures being received by at least one bottle of each case in the layer. In this manner the cases in the layer are restrained against relative horizontal movement beyond a distance which would permit the cases to fall off the stack.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an arrangement of the aforedescribed nature wherein the apertured sheet may be reused many times.

Yet an additional object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement of the aforedescribed nature which may be utilized with standard beverage bottle cases now in use without necessitating any modifications whatsoever to such cases.

It is yet an additional object of the present invention to provide an arrangement of the aforedescribed nature which may be utilized both in-plant and while the cases are being shipped.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the apended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of locking device utilized with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing how the locking device of FIG. 1 restrains relative horizontal movement between the abutting cases of a layer of bottlecontaining cases;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view in reduced scale of a stack of cases locked together by an arrangement embodying the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a modified form of locking device which may be utilized with the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view showing the locking device of FIG. 5 in operative position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a locking sheet device L which may be utilized with the present invention. The locking sheet L is generally rectangular in configuration and is formed with a plurality of like apertures 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 arranged in a row on one side and like apertures 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 arranged in a row on its opposite side. Apertures 10 and 20, are in transverse alignment with one another. Similarly, apertures 12 and 22, 14 and 24, 16 and 26, and 18 and 28 are in transverse alignment with one another.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown an upper layer C-1 of abutting cases designated 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40. These cases each contain a plurality of like beverage bottles B. Referring particularly to FIG. 3, it shall be understood that the layer C-l is the uppermost layer of a plurality of similar layers of abutting beverage bottle-containing cases, the underside of the cases 30-40 of layer C-l resting upon the top of the bottles B, disposed in the next lower layer C-2 of cases.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 the locking sheet L has been dropped over the tops of the most proximate bottles B in cases 30-40, and is supported generally horizontally by such bottles.

Apertures 18 and 28 have been received by the top of bottles B1 and B2 of end cases 30 and 36. Apertures 10 and 20 have been received by the tops of bottles B3 and B4 of opposite end cases 34 and 40. Apertures 12, 14 and 16 have been received by the innermost row of bottles B5, B6 and B7 of intermediate case 32, while apertures 22, 24 and 26 have been received by the innermost row of bottles B8, B9 and B10 of intermediate case 38.

Assuming now that one of the cases 30-40, such as case 34, tended to fall out of its layer, C-I, relative horizontal movement of such case with respect to its abutting cases of the layer G! will be restrained by the engagement of the upper portion of bottle B4 with the periphery of aperture 10. In this manner, case 34 would be positively restrained against falling from the stack of cases.

Now referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a plurality of stacked layers of bottle-containing cases C. The topmost layer of such cases have been locked together by a locking sheet L in the manner described hereinabove. One of the cases C-10 in the top layer of cases depicted being held in place by such locking device L after this case C-10 has slipped horizontally out of its original position abutting the other cases in its layer, a distance which is predetermined by the size and spacing of the apertures, such distance being of sufficiently small enough magnitude to present the displaced case from falling off the stack. It should be noted that it is generally necessary to provide only the upper layer C-1 of cases with a locking sheet L, since the weight of the cases in the topmost layer will apply sufficient anchoring force to prevent toppling over of the cases therebelow. It should be further understood that the material from which the locking sheet L is formed must have sufiicient tensile strength to support the weight of the bottle-containing cases whether such bottles are filled or empty. Various low-cost synthetic plastics may be satisfactorily utilized. Alternatively, where the locking sheet L is not exposed to moisture, paperboard or cardboard may be employed.

It is important to note that the apertures -28 formed in locking sheet L should be large enough to drop over the tops of the bottles B even where such bottles are somewhat misaligned from their normal position in the case, yet the size of these apertures should be sufficiently small as to lock the bottles and hence their case against slippage off of the layer of cases. To facilitate application of the locking sheet L to misaligned bottles, the apertures may be foremd with a generally trapezoidal configuration such as that shown in the drawings, with the smaller end of the trapezoid being arcuate rather than straight and being proximate the outer edges of the sheet. Preferably the opposite corners of the apertures will also be somewhat rounded so as to resist tearing.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 there is shown a modified form of locking device L which may be utilized with the present invention. The locking device L is particularly adapted for use with cases containing a plurality of cartons with each carton holding a like number of bottles. Generally, such cartons are termed a six-pack." Thus, referring to FIG. 6, there are shown six cases 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 of like construction. Each case holds four six-pack cartons, such cartons each containing six bottles B. The locking device L is provided with apertures 70 which are received by the upper portion of the most proximate of the bottles'B in the cases 50-60 similarly to the arrangement recited hereinbefore with respect to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. it will be understood that locking device L' serves to restrain horizontal movement of these cases from the uppermost layer of a stack of layers of such cases just as described hereinbefore with respect to locking sheet L.

Preferably, the aforedescribed locking devices L and L will be formed of a flexible material. This flexibility permits a portion of the locking device to be raised so that one or more of the locked-together cases below such raised portion may be removed from their layer.

Various modifications and changes may be made with respect to the foregoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

I claim:

1. in a multi-layered stack of bottle-containing cases wherein each layer includes a plurality of abutting cases, a locking device for one of said layers, comprising a horizontal sheet formed with a plurality of apertures, said apertures being received by at least one bottle of each case in said layer to thereby restrain relative horizontal movement of the cases in said layer beyond a predetermined distance to thereby prevent such cases from falling ofi of said stack.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheet is formed of a synthetic plastic material.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said apertures are arranged in two longitudinal rows of transversely aligned pairs.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said apertures are of generally trapezoidal configuration with the smaller end of said trapezoids being arcuate and being proximate to the outer edges of said sheet.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sheet is sufficiently flexible to permit a portion thereof to be raised to release the cases below said portion.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said apertures are arranged in two longitudinal rows of transversely aligned pairs.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said apertures are of generally trapezoidal configuration with the smaller end of said trapezoids being arcuate and being proximate to the outer edges of said sheet.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheet is sufficiently flexible to permit a portion thereof to be raised to release the cases below said portion.

9. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said apertures are arranged in two longitudinal rows of transversely aligned pairs.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said apertures are of generally trapezoidal configuration with the smaller end of said trapezoids being arcuate and being proximate to the outer edges of said sheet.

l ll 

1. In a multi-layered stack of bottle-containing cases wherein each layer includes a plurality of abutting cases, a locking device for one of said layers, comprising a horizontal sheet formed with a plurality of apertures, said apertures being received by at least one bottle of each case in said layer to thereby restrain relative horizontal movement of the cases in said layer beyond a predetermined distance to thereby prevent such cases from falling off of said stack.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheet is formed of a synthetic plastic material.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said apertures are arranged in two longitudinal rows of transversely aligned pairs.
 4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said apertures are of generally trapezoidal configuration with the smaller end of said trapezoids being arcuate and being proximate to the outer edges of said sheet.
 5. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sheet is sufficiently flexible to permit a portion thereof to be raised to release the cases below said portion.
 6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said apertures are arranged in two longitudinal rows of transversely aligned pairs.
 7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said apertures are of generally trapezoidal configuration with the smaller end of said trapezoids being arcuate and being proximate to the outer edges of said sheet.
 8. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheet is sufficiently flexible to permit a portion thereof to be raised to release the cases below said portion.
 9. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said apertures are arranged in two longitudinal rows of transversely aligned pairs.
 10. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said apertures are of generally trapezoidal configuration with the smaller end of said trapezoids being arcuate and being proximate to the outer edges of said sheet. 